The Grandmaster 09

"Nonsense!" Changmei flustered, but quickly composed himself.

Yue, standing to the side, shouted, "Master, I know! Our newly opened restaurant has taken a lot of their business!"

"Oh~" Fang Zhiyi wore a face full of mockery.

From the corner of his eye, Changmei saw the surrounding righteous disciples looking shocked, and his heart filled with hatred. "You demoness, stop spouting nonsense!"

Yue, however, paid no heed. "Me, spouting nonsense? You all don't know, do you? These senior monks come and go from the city in luxurious carriages and keep several concubines! I even know the addresses! They've bought cosmetics from me!"

Changmei, furious and desperate, suddenly turned towards Yue, his hands forming claws, veins bulging, his killing intent already aroused.

But a cold, quiet voice came from behind him. "Old bald donkey, I didn't say you could leave."

A gust of fierce wind followed the words, and Changmei hurriedly raised his guard.

However, Fang Zhiyi's attacks suddenly became much more fierce and sharp, impossible to defend against completely. Changmei took several hard hits, saw the situation turning against him, and retreated a few steps, supported by his junior brother.

He just felt something wet on his body. Was it sweat? Changmei glanced down quickly. Good, it was urine—how could such a level of exertion make him sweat? Huh? Wait, no, had he even been beaten so hard he lost control of his bowels?

Suddenly, he felt the true energy within his body continuously leaking out. His originally upright posture rapidly bent and sagged, and he seemed to age more than twenty years in an instant.

Fang Zhiyi looked at him. "What a pity. You were just one step away from longevity."

Changmei stared at him in terror, suddenly realizing something.

"Tsk tsk." Fang Zhiyi's face was full of pity.

Changmei finally understood. The person before him was one who had already broken through the peak of martial arts! He... he was cultivating immortality! And Fang Zhiyi's heart-piercing pity made it all clear—he himself was the one who had been deluded. He was just one step away! He had already touched the threshold!

With this realization, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and fell unconscious.

Fang Zhiyi no longer looked at him, turning instead to the others. "Anyone else tired of living? Step forward."

Seeing the dead and wounded around Fang Zhiyi, everyone was intimidated.

The next scene completely shattered their fighting spirit. A row of figures suddenly appeared on the surrounding walls. These people wore uniform clothing and held powerful crossbows. Meanwhile, the main gate behind them was also blocked by soldiers.

"Fang Zhiyi! You... you're colluding with the imperial court!" someone exclaimed in shock.

Fang Zhiyi curled his lip. "What kind of bastard logic is that? You come to my door shouting about killing, and I can't report it to the authorities?"

Even Li Xiuyu was dumbfounded. Reporting official matters to settle Jianghu grievances—he'd never heard of such a thing!

His master was clearly very familiar with the commanding general. After the two exchanged pleasantries, the officers began arresting people. Under Fang Zhiyi's intimidation, these martial artists didn't dare to resist.

"Grandmaster, they... they're so pitiful..." Li Weiyang, who had appeared at some point, said softly.

Fang Zhiyi glanced at him sideways but said nothing.

It was Yue who spoke. "They're pitiful? When they bullied commoners relying on their superior martial skills, were the commoners pitiful?"

Li Weiyang looked at his mother in surprise.

"Your sworn father practiced martial arts alone, and his whole family was killed. Were his family pitiful?"

"They learn martial arts, then scorn the law, act recklessly without restraint, kill innocents over a few lousy manuals or a broken sword—were those who died pitiful?" Under Yue's series of questions, Li Weiyang was left speechless.

"Uh, mine wasn't exactly a broken sword, was it..." Sun Kui said somewhat awkwardly.

"Go back and copy the Great Qin legal code ten times! No, fifty times!"

Li Weiyang left, crestfallen.

"Master, about the imperial court..." Yue inquired of Fang Zhiyi.

Fang Zhiyi nodded. "That needs to be dealt with too."

This Jianghu massacre finally came to an end. Because so many sects had gathered at the Cangyue Sect this time, it saved a lot of trouble—they were almost all caught in one net. How to deal with them was now a matter for the authorities.

The court factions that had participated in the previous chaotic battles were also rooted out, implicating a Grand Tutor, a Prince, and a Nine Thousand Year-Old (powerful eunuch). All three were charged with treason.

What these people wanted was that elixir of immortality; their goal went without saying.

Two years later, the Cangyue Sect had completely transformed. Its business ventures grew larger and larger. With money, many disciples began integrating into city life and enjoying themselves. No one fought and killed anymore. After the previous purge, the originally chaotic Jianghu seemed to fade from public view. It wasn't that martial artists no longer existed, but they had all become much more well-behaved.

Because the Martial Virtue Department, spearheaded by Li Xiuyu, was formally established. Those who entered were almost all masters among masters. Their duty was to investigate cases involving so-called Jianghu figures. Li Xiuyu's character was well-suited for this. Though honest, his principles were extremely strong; he showed no favoritism to anyone who broke the law.

Martial artists who killed commoners: death penalty. Martial artists who brawled among themselves: martial arts abolished. Killing for treasure: conscripted into the army.

Soon, the entire country became much more stable. The lives of common people gradually improved. Those who relied on their skills to eat without paying or caused trouble while drinking all disappeared.

Now, the most common story was about a disciple from one sect being beaten by another, with the first thing the sect leader doing being reporting it to the authorities. Everything followed procedure: compensation paid where due, jail time served where due.

Sun Kui was taken by the Martial Virtue Department to serve as an example and part-time advisor. It was said to be atoning for his crimes through merit, but it was actually to use his own story to warn others. Sun Kui was quite willing. After the events of previous years, his name was famous—though not for good reasons—but he even had fans. Hmm, Sect Leader Fang said that's what they're called.

As for the three secret manuals, they were confiscated by the authorities. The treasured blade was also hung on display at the Martial Virtue Department. No one was allowed to touch it, and no martial artist was crazy enough to dare rob the Martial Virtue Department.

Li Weiyang, in the end, did not walk the path of the original plot, embracing beauties left and right. He was kept firmly in check by his parents' strict upbringing. When he came of age, Yue arranged a match for him with an ordinary family. Their daughter had a gentle temperament, and Li Weiyang married her.

Although other women were attracted to him during this time, the thought of the consequences if his parents found out made Li Weiyang keep a respectful distance from any woman who approached him actively. Over time, he gained a rather good reputation. His current pursuit was to pass the exam and enter the Martial Virtue Department as soon as possible, except his father personally oversaw every exam he took, targeting him specifically.

Twenty years later, Fang Zhiyi passed away, of course by his own chosen death.

The Cangyue Sect had been renamed Cangyue Commerce, with numerous disciples under its banner. When Fang Zhiyi died, guests came in an endless stream. After all, his youngest disciple was the Chief Commander of the Martial Virtue Department, and his disciple's wife was the head of Cangyue Commerce.

The Emperor specially inscribed calligraphy, calling Fang Zhiyi the foremost promoter of the rule of law.

"Next world, I'll give you a bonus." Little Hei laughed.

Fang Zhiyi took one last look at the well-behaved Li Weiyang, then turned and followed Little Hei away.